The Reluctant Emperor

Few earthly rulers inspired as much reverence, respect, and
rapture as China’s emperors. Some were brilliant military strategists; others incomparable
social architects. Esteemed or infamous, all left long-lasting effects on history,
culture, and society.

But one famous emperor didn’t want to be one at all.

Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.

Weak but Wealthy

By 1120, the Song Dynasty had already ruled China for 160
years. Rich and prosperous, the dynasty revered scholars and the fine arts.
Yet in the capital of Hangzhou, the imperial family’s distrust
of generals, combined with dubious economic reforms, left the country
militarily weak.

The Song Dynasty faced constant attacks from the neighboring kingdoms of
Liao, Jin, and Western Xia. Rather than fight their enemies, Song emperors paid
them off with annual gifts of gold, silk, and other goods. Chump change, for a
country whose gross domestic product almost matched the rest of the world combined.

Threads of Gold

In 1082, into this time of passive and confused rulers, Emperor
Huizong was born. He had zero interest in running the country, preferring to spend
his days painting and practicing calligraphy. His skill with the brush was so
polished that he invented a new style of script called the Shou Jin Ti, or “Slender Gold Style.” Later scholars praised his
Chinese characters, noting how their delicacy and sharpness resembled threads
of finely spun gold.

Enemy, Ally, Enemy

His carefree days couldn’t last forever. The Liao and Jin
grew restless, then attacked, and, in 1120, the Song allied with the Jin to
defeat the Liao.

The superior Jin singlehandedly decimated the Liao forces
and conquered its lands. Three years later, a Jin general with generous
holdings of land defected to the Song. In a foolish move, the Song imperial
court gave him an honorary title while absorbing his lands into existing Song
territory. The Jin was enraged at the Song for harboring a traitor and stealing
land. It again declared war on the Song.

A Close Call

Emperor Huizong responded by abdicating, in favor of his
elder son Qinzong, and fleeing to the countryside. Fighting reached a
stalemate, but the emperor’s younger son was held for ransom during ensuing
peace talks. Finally, the Song offered money—as well as an entire city—to
placate the Jin.

The Jin released the hostage and normalcy returned. The runaway
Huizong rejoined his son, Emperor Qinzong, in the imperial palace to live a
life of daily partying. Suggestions by
the generals to increase border patrols were rejected by Qinzong, who could
not imagine that the Jin would attack again. Experienced, loyal generals who had defended the capital in crisis were stationed in other parts of the
country, their soldiers decommissioned and sent home.

Just three months later, the Jin would send a pair of
ambassadors to the Song imperial court, where a fatal mistake would lead to
imperial kidnappings, murder of a loyal general, and the death of a dynasty.

Interact with Shen Yun:

Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers.
For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

Following the lead taken by some media and other organizations, we are now also referring to the coronavirus as "the CCP virus," as it is the Chinese Communist Party's mismanagement and cover-up that has led to the global pandemic.